<p>Our grads had to enter venue with gown over arm. They were only allowed to have car keys on phones, no other stuff. They managed to sneak 2 beach balls in which were quickly confiscated. No cigars-not legal to smoke indoors here. Ceremony was pretty brief considering size of class. 563 grads and entire ceremony done in 2 hrs.</p>
<p>Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using CC App</p>
<p>Awards ceremony was last night. Very long and boring! The usual suspects received the majority of the awards (mostly well deserved!). My d wishes she had skipped it (as some of her friends did), but I thought she should support her classmates.
Tomorrow is graduation. I get to hand out 1/2 the diplomas and am looking forward to being able to give my d and her friends theirs. My last official act on the school board as I go off on 6/30.</p>
<p>Mary & Kathie - My heart goes out to these students. It is wonderful to see the support the community showed them.</p>
<p>Congrats to this weekend’s graduates. My son and I were reminiscing about ‘what we were doing a mere 60 days ago’. Time goes by quickly. Things that seemed so critical then are just a memory now. I’m really enjoying our time together this summer with its slow pace. It’s a good transition. By August, we’ll both be ready for the next step.</p>
<p>Any Land’s End people out there? 25% off and free shipping if you use promo code SAIL and PIN 9486. Good til Monday. I saved over 430!! Woo hoo. DS is busy updated is wardrobe and getting some long-sleeved clothes.</p>
<p>If any of you have parents with Delta miles miles they do not plan to use, you can transfer them to you with a 50% bump up thru June 30. Not free, but may be worth it. Points don’t expire. I’ve been accruing lots of extra miles with my recent online shopping.</p>
<p>Wow. Graduation seems like ages ago.</p>
<p>ShawD was working on picking her classes today. Seems to have worked out a schedule she likes. She decided to take introductory Hebrew and intro psychology as electives – she figured those would be easy and interesting. </p>
<p>She did tell me that she looked up yoga studios in the vicinity of the school to see if she could get a job teaching a yoga class. I would normally caution her to wait, but she is going to complete her teacher training in July and maybe she can teach one class a week. Doing yoga at her level is very good for her. It reduces anxiety and keeps her fit, strong and nicely muscular for a thin kid. Do you think teaching a class will reduce anxiety or increase it?</p>
<p>Luggage question: We need to purchase some sort of luggage for S2 before he heads off to school in August. He’ll be 10+ hours from home so will need to fly home for the shorter breaks during the year. We plan to drive to get him at Christmas when he has a longer break. What type of luggage do you recommend? I’d like to be able to get away with just a carry-on because of bag fees, but don’t know if that’s feasible since most airlines restrict carry-ons to 45 linear inches. Some sort of duffel? I can’t seem to find anything amid our assortment at home that might do the job. (I thought storage might be a major issue, but it looks as if he’s in a dorm where the bed will be lofted and he’ll be able to stash a bag below the bed.) Suggestions from those of you who have done this before?</p>
<p>S1 goes to school close enough to home that he doesn’t fly. The only “luggage” he needs is a laundry basket full of the dirty laundry. That won’t work for #2.</p>
<p>shawbridge - I personally have always found yoga to be very relaxing and a great de-stresser. Certainly teaching it isn’t going to be quite as relaxing but I think it would still be very enjoyable. The poses easily lead from one to another so there isn’t any choreography needed as if she was teaching a dance class. If she can make it work, I would encourage it.</p>
<p>ohiomom - I usually look at this site for travel bags - [Travel</a> Duffel Bags | Huge Selection - eBags.com](<a href=“http://www.ebags.com/category/travel-duffel-bags/2003539?ne=100]Travel”>http://www.ebags.com/category/travel-duffel-bags/2003539?ne=100) Even if you don’t buy from here, the site is so well organized that it’s easy to search, read reviews and narrow down what you want. I got my daughter a motherlode junior duffel for traveling. It’s held up well. I highly recommend a wheeled duffel.</p>
<p>The bag charge is yet another good reason to travel via Southwest whenever possible!</p>
<p>Shawbridge: Does the school have an exercise facility? Perhaps she can teach right on campus! Worth looking into. If there’s a common area in one of the dorms, that’s an option too. Not sure how the payment would work out, but I’ve been in several yoga classes over the years run in a similar fashion where we did a pay as you go type arrangement (pay per class). </p>
<p>Luggage: Maybe a rolling duffle bag for the times they need to check a bag. Get the largest that the airline allows and they can carry up to the weight limit and it stores pretty flat when not in use. This is what we use for scuba equipment when we travel. The duffles can hold a lot. Perhaps invest in a luggage scale if you think weight will be an issue. It’s a lifesaver (or cash saver) for us when we travel.</p>
<p>I can’t believe some of you have been graduated for two months! Wow! I’m just glad DS doesn’t start school until September. That gives him a decent summer, since he just graduated two days ago!</p>
<p>HollieSue–enjoy graduation!</p>
<p>kathiep, thanks.</p>
<p>ShawWife thinks that I, as an extremely frequent traveler, buy suitcases like some women buy shoes. [Believe it or not, bags do wear out when you fly hundreds of thousands of miles]. Good suggestions on ebags. I like ebags as a site and have purchased there quite happily. I often find, however, that when you know what you want, you can do better by searching for the bag in froogle.com. </p>
<p>ebags has a pretty good looking rolling duffel that can be carried on. See <a href=“http://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/mother-lode-tls-mini-21-wheeled-duffel/125538?productid=1325216[/url]”>http://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/mother-lode-tls-mini-21-wheeled-duffel/125538?productid=1325216</a> and also for a bag without wheels that pretty much maxes out available space, see [eBags</a> Mother Lode TLS Weekender Convertible - eBags.com](<a href=“http://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/mother-lode-tls-weekender-convertible/143101?productid=1370035&rlid=detail&rcode=res11062319847481922175494]eBags”>http://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/mother-lode-tls-weekender-convertible/143101?productid=1370035&rlid=detail&rcode=res11062319847481922175494). We have two rolling duffels (from High Sierra and Ricardo(?) that have to be checked but that have gotten heavy use from ShawWife and the kids. ShawWife actually just took one of the rolling duffels this evening on a flight to Italy laden with art equipment. She’s teaching painting in the countryside – great gig.</p>
<p>Big fan of rolling duffels altho my price point is WAY below $161. You can pack tons in them. Our family of 3 use a rolling duffel and two carry-ons for a 2 week trip. FYI - I have a son not a daughter and learned long ago to pack minimally.</p>
<p>VAMom, good suggestion. They do have a huge facility. I’ll suggest she check that out first.</p>
<p>Hi everyone! (Remember me?) Just checking in after a long hiatus to say I missed you all. 
</p>
<p>S2 graduated way back on June 10, I threw a rather involved lunch party (cooking, cleaning, prepping, then rushing off the the ceremony, only to rush back and serve it all and clean again–was I nuts?) and all went well, thank goodness. Beautiful day, in the 70’s so the outdoor ceremony was very comfortable. And then, as you can imagine, I needed a big old break. I’ve also got a new work project so I may be less free to post all the time. I’ll still hang around, though.</p>
<p>I was so proud of S2. How had he managed to grow up to be a man while I was busy thinking he’d stay my little one forever? As you may remember, he and his gf are off in Europe right now–London and Paris. Has anyone else felt the time warp effect as all our plans and dreams (yes, since they were very young) now seem to be coming to fruition? Just this year, SAT retakes, college apps, acceptances, decisions, APs, graduation, vacation… and I won’t go on and get us all teary about what comes next!</p>
<p>I must go back and read 12 days of back posts here. Wish me luck.</p>
<p>FLMathmom -$430?? wow, that was some buying spree. Thanks for the info. I just paid for D’s summer camp and we have no money for clothes right now. 
I love LE too. </p>
<p>shawbridge - great initiative by your D. Tell her to go for it! My SIL teaches yoga and loves it, she says it is very relaxing, but hse has been doing it for years. Maybe your D can do some training over the summer and have a drop in class at home? Thanks for the duffle link, I am looking for some big bags for S to lug out all his stuff in August. </p>
<p>madbean - Europe? 18yo?? wow, I am jealous. My S is jealous. I hope they have fun.</p>
<p>Mary & Kathie: Your graduation stories brought on the tears (not hard to do these days)! I love the support shown by your graduating classes.</p>
<p>Shaw, Kathie, VAMom, Flmm: Thanks so much for the luggage tips. I’m off to search. If anyone else has tips or specific bags that have worked for you, keep the ideas coming!</p>
<p>madbean: Good to see you back. Wow! Europe! Don’t tell my sons.</p>
<p>^guess I wasn’t awake, the child in Europe is 21 right. Why would I even think you would send off a recent HS grad? still jealous.</p>
<p>Mary and Kathie: Those grad stories made me cry. It’s very touching to hear about the supportive classmates. </p>
<p>Shawbridge: Maybe your daughter should consider taking an advanced yoga class on or off campus first semester so she can get comfortable before trying to teach a class. Teaching for the first time in an unfamiliar setting might be stressful for a freshman.</p>
<p>This won’t help Ohiomom, but my D and neice love the Vera Bradley duffles for carry ons. They hold a lot and wear like iron. My D2 got one as a graduation gift so she’s set.</p>
<p>Madbean: Congrats on the graduation! I’ve been feeling like you about how quickly my little girls have grown up.</p>
<p>ohiomom - I was at AAA office couple days ago, and they had sale on luggage. They had duffel bags of 2 different sizes. I am thinking about buying one from them, even though I bought a carry-on size duffel bag from Bass Outlet store couple weeks ago.</p>
<p>momjr: You think my guys wouldn’t look good carrying Vera Bradley??? Okay, maybe not. But I’m looking for a gift for a young lady, so I’ll check out their carry-ons for her.</p>
<p>keylime: Thanks for the tip about AAA. I’ll try to stop in to see what they have.</p>
<p>Ohiomom~I believe Amazon has good carry-ons, even had a little sale a while ago.I like LL bean as well, becaus if it breaks you can return.Last year, I Bought S1 and S2 carry-on from TJ MAx. </p>
<p>Madbean~Congrats on the graduation and successful lunch.</p>
<p>Hollie~Good Luck today :)</p>
<p>My DS got his room assignment yesterday. His room is in the smallest dorm, that houses only 50 students. Even though the building doesn’t have all the amenities that the bigger dorms have, its close knot community will be a better fit for my S. </p>
<p>Funny story – my S has a friend (who happens to be a girl) and her mom and I volunteered for the same school event the last three years. We really enjoyed working together but are not close enough to socialize outside of school. The girl is the youngest child, so when we were wrapping up our work this February her mom said: “Well, it’s the last time I was doing it”. So we said a long, teary good-bye to each other. Which was short-sighted even then, because we saw each other again at the senior banquet, and the awards ceremony, and the graduation. So long story short, the girl got off the wait list at the U that S will be attending, accepted the offer and got assigned to the same dorm. What are the chances?</p>